Chrysanthemum plant named `White Cinderella`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named White Cinderella particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 73 mm when fully opened, when grown as a single stem spray cut mum; flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 46 to 53 days after start of short days; flowering response in Bogota, Colombia is 58 to 63 days; plant height is 86 to 94 cm when grown in Salinas with 14 to 18 long days prior to start of short days; height is 104 to 112 cm when grown in Bogota with 21 long days prior to start of short days; peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing the apical bud without growth regulator applications is 8 to 13 cm when grown in Salinas, and 13 to 15 cm when grown in Bogota; peduncle length of the fourth lateral at flowering is 10 to 15 cm when grown in Salinas, and 18 to 20 cm when grown in Bogota; high production of flowers per stem, with 10 to 14 laterals developing; top laterals produce one terminal flower, lower laterals produce one terminal flower and 2 to 4 secondary flowers; and excellent tolerance to low night temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name White Cinderella.

White Cinderella, identified as 0024 (90-985C01), is a product of amutation induction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selectedby inventor Cornelis P. VandenBerg on Mar. 26, 1993 in a controlledenvironment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a floweringblock established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had beenexposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 2000 rads in FortMyers, Fla. on Sep. 24, 1992. The irradiated parent cultivar was thecultivar Cinderella, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,936 anddescribed as a decorative spray cut mum with a light pink ray floretcolor.

The irradiation program resulting in White Cinderella had as its primaryobjective the expansion of color ranges of the parent cultivarCinderella. The irradiation program comprised irradiation of cuttings ofthe parent cultivar at irradiation levels of 1500, 1750 and 2000 rads. Atotal of 768 cuttings harvested from a total of 225 irradiated plantswere planted on Jan. 18, 1993. Of these, 14 initial selections weremade, which selections were then revegetated and reflowered. Threeconsecutive flowerings resulted in discarding 8 of the original 14selections on Dec. 6, 1993. The remaining selections were maintained asPIs (Possible Introductions) and further trialed in Salinas, Calif. andBogota, Colombia, ultimately resulting in discarding two of theremaining selections on Nov. 12, 1994 and the decision to introduce the4 remaining selections as White Cinderella, Golden Cinderella, PeachCinderella and Pink Cinderella. Golden Cinderella, Peach Cinderella andPink Cinderella are disclosed in pending application Ser. Nos.08/525,313; 08/525,312, and 08/525,315, respectively.

The first act of asexual reproduction of White Cinderella wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in June of 1993 in a controlled environment in Salinas,Calif., by technicians working under supervision of Cornelis P.VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for White Cinderella are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

White Cinderella has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and in Bogota, Colombia, under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialgreenhouse practice. The low night temperature tolerance was determinedin repeated flowerings in Bogota, Colombia, with an average minimum lownight temperature inside the greenhouse during our trials ranging as lowas 5 to 8 degrees Celsius.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of White Cinderella, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. White ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 73 mm when fully opened,when grown as a single stem spray cut mum.

5. Flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 46 to 53days after start of short days. Flowering response in Bogota, Colombiais 58 to 63 days.

6. Plant height is 86 to 94 cm when grown in Salinas with 14 to 18 longdays prior to start of short days; height is 104 to 112 cm when grown inBogota with 21 long days prior to start of short days.

7. Peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing theapical bud without growth regulator applications is 8 to 13 cm whengrown in Salinas, and 13 to 15 cm when grown in Bogota. Peduncle lengthof the fourth lateral at flowering is 10 to 15 cm when grown in Salinas,and 18 to 20 cm when grown in Bogota.

8. High production of flowers per stem, with 10 to 14 lateralsdeveloping. Top laterals produce one terminal flower, lower lateralsproduce one terminal flower and 2 to 4 secondary flowers.

9. Excellent tolerance to low night temperatures for bud initiation andflower development.

The accompanying photographic drawing is a side view of a single stemcut spray mum of White Cinderella, with the colors being as nearly trueas possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to White Cinderella is the parent cultivar Cinderella. Alltraits of White Cinderella are similar to those of Cinderella, exceptfor the ray floret color. The ray floret color of White Cinderella iswhite (R.H.S. 155B), while the ray floret color of Cinderella isdescribed as light pink (R.H.S. 62D).

When compared to the sibling cultivars, White Cinderella and GoldenCinderella differ from Cinderella and from each other only with respectto ray floret color. In addition to color, Pink Cinderella differs fromCinderella, White Cinderella and Golden Cinderella by its 1-2 daysslower flowering response. Peach Cinderella has a 1-4 days slowerresponse than Cinderella, White Cinderella and Golden Cinderella, andhas a 3-10 cm shorter plant height compared to Cinderella and all of theother siblings.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a single stem spray cut mum grown in Salinas,Calif. on Jun. 27, 1995.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv White Cinderella.

Commerical.--Flat decorative spray cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--64 to 73 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--155B.

Color (under surface).--155D.

Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14A.

Color (immature).--144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--86 to 94 cm when grown in Salinas with 14 to 18 long days priorto start of short days; height is 104 to 112 cm when grown in Bogotawith 21 long days prior to start of short days.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed, strongly serrated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant namedWhite Cinderella, as described and illustrated.